Stamp-affixing device.



.No. 790,815- PATENTED MAY 23 1905.

. J. D. BLAGDEN & G. A. TIENSGH.

STAMP APFIXING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1903.

Emmi-.5

NITED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. BLAGDEN AND GUSTAV A. TIENSCH, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

STAMP-AFFIXING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,815, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed August 15, 1903. Serial No. 169,641.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN D. BLAGDEN and GUSTAV A. TIENSCH, citizens of the United States, residing at Memphis, Shelby county, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aflixing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in stamp-aflixing devices, and has especial reference to a device for afiixing postage-stamps to letters, postals, circulars, &c., in which device a magazine containing stamps is used to hold the stamps which are successively placed by the machine on the letters.

The objects of our invention are,first,to provide a simple machine in which a number of stamps can be placed and successively aflixed to letters; second, to provide means whereby the stamps themselves will not be moistened except as they are placed on the letter, and therefore the moisture from one stamp will not be communicated to the adjacent stamps in the magazine and they will therefore not be dampened and stick together.

' In carrying out our invention we employ a box or receptacle for the superposed stamps, which box is removable from and may be inserted after filling in the main magazine of the aflixer. We also employ a moistening pad or sponge, which moistens the envelop where the stamp is to be placed and which is withdrawn by the action of the device when the stamp is being pushed down against .the env velop.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of our device, showing the plunger depressed and the magazine about one-half full of stamps, with the stamps pressed down in Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate the same or like parts in all the views, 1 1 are the side frames of the machine, connected at the lower end by a rod by pins 7 and 8, which pins are so placed that r they allow this chamber to be depressed until it comes flush with the bottom of the frame 1.

In the lower end of the chamber 6 is a removable stamp-magazine 9, having pins projecting inward and (see especially views 3 and t) supporting the stamps, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Mounted in the plunger-chamber 6 and so constructed as to pass the magazine 9 is a plunger 11. which is carried on a stem 12, which projects upward through a circular opening in the top of the chamber 6 and which is therefore guided by the said opening and the said plunger in the lower portion of the chamber. This plunger is held normally raised by a spring 13, surrounding the stem 12 and resting against the under side of the handle 14:, fixed to the stem 12. The lower end of this spring rests on top of the chamber 6.

15 is a cylindrical covering to prevent the hand catching in the spring when the plunger is being depressed.

16 is a frame pivoted on the rod t and normally held beneath the magazine 9 by a spring 17, coiled around the said rod 4. 18 is a crossbar connecting the two sides of this frame. In the lower end of this frame is a sponge-box 19, which is mounted on a pivot 20 and is held down by a tension-spring 21 acting outside the pivot. v

22 is a stop which comes against the frame 16 to prevent the sponge-box being thrown too far around.

23 is the sponge which moistens the envelop. This sponge is placed in the holder and its upper surface is covered so that it will not moisten the stamp.

The sponge-box 19 and frame 16 are moved outward as theplunger is depressed by the pin 8, which works against a cam 23, extending inward from said frame 16 into the path of the said pin 8. When, therefore, the pin 8 descends, it pushes the cam out of its path,

and thereby moves the sponge to one side,

drawing it across the paper.

In use the magazine 9 is removed from the plunger-chamber 6 and is filled from the top with separate stamps, which rest on the pins 10. When filled, the magazine is inserted'in the bottom of the plunger-chamber 6, where it may be held in any way desired, but preferably only by the friction of the magazine on the chamber. The sponge having been wet the device is ready for use. It is grasped by the handle lt and is placed on the envelop at the point where it is desired to place a stamp. The plunger is depressed, carrying down with it the plunger-chamber 6 and pushing the cam 23 to one side, so that the sponge is drawn across the face of the envelop where the stamp is to go. After the sponge-holder has been pushed to one side the plunger-chamber continues to descend until it rests on the envelop. Further pressure compresses the spring 13 and allows the plunger 11 to come down on the stamps and force them against the envelop. The lower stamp coming against the moistened envelop adheres to it and when the plunger is again raised is pulled out of the bottom of the magazine, remaining on the envelop. The remaining stamps not having been touched by the moistened surface or having come in contact for even a short time with a moistened stamp are not affected and remain in the magazine without adhering together. The device may be removed to the next envelop and the operation repeated. The frame 1 hangs loosely on the plunger-chamber 6 when the device is raised, and the plunger-chamber will assume very much the position shownin Fig. 1 when it is pushed down when not in use, except that the depressed plunger chamber will not be pressed down against the envelop.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States, is

1. In an apparatus for affixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with a plunger-chamber, a plunger mounted therein, a

spring normally holding said plunger raised,

pins projecting from said plunger-chamber, a slotted frame mounted on said .pins, a swinging frame mounted in said slotted frame, a cam projecting inward from said swinging frame into the path of one of the pins on said plunger chamber; a sponge-holder having one end free mounted in the lower end of said swinging frame, a stop on said sponge-holder, a spring normally depressing the free end of said sponge-holder and a spring working on said swinging frame to hold said sponge-holder normally beneath said plunger-chamber, of a removable stamp-magazine in said plungerchamber, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for aflixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with a plunger-chamber, a plunger mounted therein, a spring normally holding said plunger raised, pins projecting from said plunger-chamber, a slotted frame mounted on said pins, a swinging frame mounted in said slotted frame, a cam projecting inward from said swinging frame into the path of one of the pins on said plunger chamber; a sponge holder having one end free mounted in the lower end of said swinging frame, a stopon said sponge-holder, a spring working on said swinging frame to hold said sponge holder normally beneath said plunger chamber and the removable stamp-magazine 10, with the projecting pins 11 in the lower end of said plunger-chamber, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. BLAGDEN. GUSTAV A. TIENSCH.

WVitnesses:

BEN L. OLARY, P. T. JONES, Jr. 

